Brickfields which deal in the manufacture of the traditional red brick have absolutely no place in current day Bangladesh. Not only is the product they make completely archaic and outmoded, but the process involved in making it is one of the biggest reasons behind the destruction of the very air we breathe and consequently of public health as well.
Illegal, unregulated brickfields especially have been a thorn in the side of environmental integrity, especially that of our capital city, for years now. The toxic fumes bellowing from brick kilns contain fine particulate matter which, when breathed in, leads to a whole host of health complications and life-threatening diseases. To say that administrative action against these establishments has long been necessary would be a complete understatement.
To that end, it is good to see a mobile court in Feni fining five brickfields a sum total of Tk58 lakh while also evicting two others for operating without the necessary permits is greatly appreciated. During the drive, two brickfields were evicted due to the lack of clearance from the Department of Environment. While another was fined Tk20 lakh, and another Tk10 lakh, for lacking environmental clearance and for illegally collecting soil from cropland by cutting topsoil.
It is no coincidence that the air in our urban centres has degraded to such levels, in fact this past Sunday morning saw Dhaka record an AQI of 445 which placed it at the top of the list of most polluted cities in the world. Brickfields dotting the capital city play a large part to this end -- holding these institutions and their owners accountable has been a necessity for a long time.
